From Mark Feinsand:
For years, Jeter has preached that the season is a failure if you’re not the last team standing.
“I agree with him 100%; that’s why we’re here and why we play this game,” Burnett said.
But is a World Series-or-bust edict more pressure than players need over a 162-game season? Burnett doesn’t think so.
“I think it’s a good mind-set to take to the field with you every day,” he said. “I’ll start thinking that in my preparation now, because I think it’s true. There are 25 guys in here, but we’re not just playing for ourselves. We’re playing for the fans, we’re playing for the city and we’re playing for the world of pinstripes.”
Burnett seems to have really taken to the Yankee way of approaching the sport. When the Yankees signed him, some doubted that he had the right mentality to fit in in New York. However, he has surprisingly taken a leadership position, mentoring Joba and CMW while making himself available to the media on a regular basis. AJ constantly talks about how much he has matured over the last few seasons, and this spring has confirmed that notion. He looks like a perfect fit for this team, and only his health can prevent him from being a major cog on the 2009 Yankees.
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3 Responses to Burnett: Championship Or Bust
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Good to hear that Burnett is focused on winning. I think he is a big key to this season. If he makes 30+ starts that will make a big difference.
I sure hope that he stays healthy. If he does, he brings the Paul O’Neill, Clemons, Jaba kind of nasty that this team really needs and missed over the last few years.
I was a huge AJ fan while he was in Toronto you would see how he would come into Yankee Stadium and dominate the Yankees. I was thrilled when he signed here-if he stays healthy and you can say that about anyone, your looking at maybe one of the best pitchers in the league pitching out of the three hole. I really think in our discussions about the yankees he has been overlooked